The road to the historic Durango High School football state championship win in 2020 was paved by an elite offensive line. So, it was no surprise that two of the team’s senior linemen signed with two of the best NCAA Division II college football programs on National Signing Day.
Left tackle Ethan Ryan signed a National Letter of Intent to accept a scholarship offer with the Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves, while left guard Nathan Howland accepted a preferred walk-on offer at Colorado School of Mines.
Combined, the two boys helped Durango rush for 2,010 yards in eight games in 2020 after the team totaled 2,865 rushing yards in 12 games in 2019.
“Colleges want size. With their frames, these guys are going to get bigger and stronger and be great college players,” DHS head coach David Vogt said.
Mines has won 12 Rocky Mountain Athletic Championships with a run of titles in 2010, 2014, 2016 and 2019. CSU-Pueblo has claimed seven conference crowns and won the 2014 NCAA Division II national championship.
Ryan, a 2020 Class 3A All-State First Team selection, has played left tackle since he joined the Durango YAFL team in third grade. Part of a senior class that only lost one YAFL game in elementary school, went undefeated in middle school and then finished their careers with the Class 3A state championship win – Durango’s first since 1964 – Ryan was there to protect the blindside of quarterback Jordan Woolverton every step of the way.
“Ethan was a super important part of the team and got better every year at his position to be able to dominate,” Vogt said.
At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Ryan has a massive wingspan and showed pure grit en route to the Demons’ state championship.
“Ethan is a knee bender,” CSU-Pueblo offensive line coach Chris Symington said. “He’s physical and a state champion. Ethan is nasty and physical.”
Ryan, son of Candice and Elliot Ryan, gained interest from CSU-Pueblo during his senior season, and he solidified his interest in the team when head coach John Wristen spoke to him shortly before the Demons played Roosevelt in the state championship played Dec. 5 at CSU-Pueblo’s ThunderBowl Stadium.
“I got in the stadium, and the coaches wished me best of luck and told me to kick butt and do the best we could,” Ryan said. “I’m glad we were able to do that.”
Ryan said he liked the team’s facilities as well as the school, though he’s not quite sure what he plans to study.
He does know he wants to compete for a starting job by his sophomore season. He said to get it done will take adding muscle while also focusing on his school work and learning how to handle college courses.
“I saw no faults in CSU-Pueblo. I liked everything about the setup there,” Ryan said. “The main reason I picked there is the team’s record. You see how they play and how they win, I like being part of a team that wins like that.”
Howland, who long preferred hockey, committed himself more fully to football his junior season. Also well known for his halftime performances in the DHS pit orchestra, Howland transformed into a beast on the line as a junior, paving the way for his brother, Everett, to run for a 1,400-yard season.
As a senior, Howland grew to 6-3, 260-pounds and formed a perfect tandem on the left side of the line with Ryan and sophomore center Joshua Bates.
“It was a decision he made his junior year to get serious with it,” Vogt said. “He fully dedicated himself and turned into a college-worthy athlete.”
Howland, son of Jim and Lynn Howland, first started talking with Mines during a summer camp. Never certain he wanted to play college football, the opportunity to go to a great academic school and play football was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Howland boasts a 3.90 grade-point average and plans to study computer science.
“This has been an amazing experience,” Howland said. “I’ve been dreaming about this school for academics since I was in sixth grade, so I’m very excited to get a chance to go there for school and play football. I can’t wait to become a college-level football player and work hard to get faster and stronger.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
